Elastic sock for footwear



Feb. 14, 1939. y A SCH 2,146,888

ELASTIC SOCK FOR FOOTWEAR Filed June 16, 1958 ARTH UR FISCH ATTORNE YS-Patented Feb. 14, 1939 PATENT KELASTIC SOCK FOR 'FOQTWEAR Arthur Fisch,Heidelberg, Germany Applicationlune 16, 1938,`J.Seria;l No. 214,136 InGreat Britain March 1l, 1938 12 Claims.

The present inventionrelatesto socksof elastic material whichmay.bei-nserted .in all kinds of footwear.

1n accordance .with fthe invention, a .sock for .insertion inshoesor'hoots is characterised by the `face 4of the upper 4layer :foroverlaps the upper edge of this layer.

Further, the underlayer of elastic material isv mfeferablyprovided onits lower side with projections. ribs or the like of any desirable shapeand arrangement serving for increasing the elasticity resilience of theunder layer. In a particuler embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention, the projections or studs of the elastic under layer have suchan irregular form and magnitude that the under layer, and thereby theentire sock to be inserted in the shoe, is adapted to fit the shape ofthe wearers foot; particularly the foot arch and the toes areconveniently supported. Orthopaedic socks for insertion in shoes canthus be manufactured in a very simple manner such as reduired forpersons suffering from malformed or diseased feet.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention. there is formedin the elastic under layer. between the projections or studs, a numberof perforations. Bv this means the admission of air to the upper layerof moisture absorbent material is facilitated. Owing to theseperforations in the under layer, the air circulation is stili furtherincreased during the act of walking by the fact that on bearing againstthe lower projections by the wearer. the latter yield and in asubsequent upward movement of the foot the projections will expand;thereby the sock will. alternately approach the sole of the shoe andrecede, whereby a pump action is created which drives the air throughthe mentioned openings in the under layer and through the pores or otherinterstices of the upper layer. By this means the ventilation of theupper layer and also the airing of the foot is assured, which againcontributes to an increase of comfort to the person wearing this sock.`Moreover, by working ci the under layer during the act of walking andalso by the movement of air released thereby, a massage action is to acertain measure exerted upon the yfoot .muscles which prevents foot,fatigue ,In.accordance Withthepresent invention, rub- 4'ber orthe likeis chosen as the material .for the underlayer, whilst the .upper part of'the sock to c5 be inserted may be manufactured of known porous materialsuch as cork, cardboard, felt,lpaper material, orthe like, or alsoleather. v,If necessary, the upper layer of. Vthe sock (preferablywithsmall porosity ofthe working. material) may -1'0 v.beprovidedWithjholes, which may be arranged ,either exactlyover ,the intersticesof the vunder layer, ormaybedisplacedin regard to the latter. The sockto 4be finserted in .accordance .with

thelpresent invention, combines 4in consequence F15 linitself Ithefadvantages of all Vknown socks and :.,possesseamoreover stilly furtherinestimable advantages, at the same time preventing the v,disadvantagesoi the known socks 'for 'footwear'. The sock, in accordance with thepresent invention, possesses thus all the advantages of an elastic sockwithout the necessity of the foot coming into contact with a rubbersock, and also all the advantages of a moisture absorbent sock withoutthe necessity of the foot renouncing the com- 25 fort of an arch and toesupport; moreover, the sock capable of absorption fullls its purposemuch more effectively, since the latter, in consequence of a permanentairing during use, remains dry. A further important advantage con- 30sists inthe interchangeability of the upper layer, thus enabling thecleaning of. the elastic under layer, which, from the hygienic point ofView,

is very important.

The invention is illustrated in the accompany- 35 ing drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is an inverted view in plan of a sock, showing the undersurface in accordance with one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional edge view on the lines 40 II-II of Figure 1 on alarger scale;

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal elevation of a modied form of the sock;

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional edge views on the lines IV-IV and V-Vrespectively of Figure 2; 45

Figures 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating two various possibilities forthe arrangement of the studs or ribs on the lower surface of the sock.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the sock consists of an under layer 2 ofelastic material, which 50 is provided with upright edges B, betweenwhich is inserted an upper layer of moisture absorbent material 4. Inthe illustrated example the edges 6 overlap the upper layer 4; they can,however, extend to the same height as the upper layer 4 55 and be flushtherewith. Finally, the upper layer can also be reduced in thickness atthe upper edge so that an overlapping edge 6 surrounding the upper layer4 does not project over the surface of. the upper layer 4.

At its lower surface the under layer 2 is provided With stud-likeprojections I covering the lower surface partly or entirely. Theseprojections I may have a round, triangular or polygonal form, or be ofany desirable shape; they may extend over the lower surface of the underlayer in the form of parallel or intersected ribs, as can be seen fromFigures 6 and 7. The under layer 2 of the sock to be inserted, inaccordance with the present invention, is further provided withperforations 3; over these perforations and in alignment with orangularly displaced from the latter, holes can be formed in the upperlayer 4. This arrangement of the upper layer can preferably be selectedwhen the latter consists of slightly porous or non-porous material, suchas leather or the like. If instead of leather, felt or the like is usedas material for the upper layer, the holes in the upper layer 4 may b eomitted, owing to the porosity of such material.

In anv embodiment of the invention particularly suitable for orthopaedicsocks to be inserted in shoes, the stud-like projections on the lowersurface of the under layer are irregular, that is to say, of 'differentheights, so that the sock ts to the shape of the wearers foot, and thearch support and the toes are for example supported in a suitable manneras by the stud-like projections 9 of the sock, in accordance with thepresent invention, illustrated in Figures 3-5. In this case the upperlayer 4 is pressed if necessary in the arched form in such a way that itts to the form of the under layer and may be easily inserted in thelatter.

The under layer 2 made from rubber or the like is advantageously formedwith stud-like projections I or 9 respectively and the edge 6 from onepiece. The edge 6 can be very constricted, for example have a width of2-3 mm. and it can extend continually around the entire sock or atintervals. The projections may also be formed in such aV manner thatcircular or cornered cavities or depressions are provided so thatreverse to the form of embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure1, the circulars I represent cavities and the surrounding surfaceelements form the projections. 'I'he perforations 3 come to lay in thiscase preferably Within the circles I.

What I claim is:-

1. An orthopedic sock for insertion in footwear comprising an underlayer of elastic material, integral projections formed on its lowersurface, an upstanding flange integrally formed around the edge of saidlayer, and a porous upper layer removably positioned and gripped by saidflange, whereby the upper layer may be quickly removed and replaced witha minimum of time and effort, said flange being of such height as tohave a portion overlying said upper layer.

Y 2. An orthopedic sock for insertion in footwear comprising an underlayer of elastic material, integral projections formed on its lowersurface, intersticesextending through said layer to provide aircirculation, an upstanding flange inu tegrally formed around the edge ofsaid layer, and a porous upper layer removably positioned and gripped bysaid ilange, whereby the upper layer may be quickly removed andVreplaced with a minimum of time and effort.

ARTHUR FISCH.

